Hamilton Leads in India FP1

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton edged out Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel to go fastest as India made its Formula 1 debut.

Hamilton went half a second faster on his last lap at the Buddh International Circuit outside the capital, Delhi.

McLaren's Jenson Button lost time on his final run behind HRT's Indian racer Narain Karthikeyan and was fourth behind Mark Webber's Red Bull.

The dusty track lacked grip but Toro Rosso's Jaime Alguersuari was the only driver to crash out.

Hamilton set his leading time of one minute 26.836 seconds when double yellow flags, used to slow the drivers down, were being waved at the end of the session.

But BBC 5 live analyst Anthony Davidson said afterwards that he felt Hamilton had not done anything wrong and should not face further action from the stewards.

The undulating, high-speed circuit, designed by F1's favoured architect Hermann Tilke, sits in the midst of farmland and the drivers battled with dust and lack of grip on the 'green' track.F1 entered the unknown as the sport made its debut in India at the Buddh International Circuit built 25 miles outside the capital city of Delhi.

Vettel had a rough ride across the grass - some of which BBC 5 live David Croft commentator said was in fact earth that had been sprayed with green paint - as he tested the limits of his Red Bull.

Felipe Massa's Ferrari and Sauber's Sergio Perez also sent plumes of dust billowing into the air when they both cut the corner at the same spot as Vettel.

But only Jaime Alguersuari crashed out when he slid his Toro Rosso into the barriers late on.

"He lost it at the exit of Turn Nine," explained BBC 5 live analyst Anthony Davidson. "He caught the slide and then it flicked back on him the other way.

"You feel gutted when you have an accident like that as it's such a silly error."

The Spaniard, who completed only four laps, glumly watched replays of his retirement from the session as he sat underneath a giant video screen waiting to be collected.There was also bad luck for Fernando Alonso, who was told to stop his Ferrari after telling his team it had lost power.

The engine on Pastor Maldonado's Williams also gave up in the closing stages of the session.

McLaren spent the first half an hour of practice analysing the front wing that had hampered Hamilton as he battled to second place last time out in Korea.

Small pieces of rubber 'marbles' had slotted into the wing during the race, hindering both his pursuit of Vettel's Red Bull and his defence from Webber behind him.

Button also said he had a big stone embedded in his front wing, which cost him downforce as he chased down Webber's Red Bull.

But the McLarens had a straightforward first run around the Buddh circuit, with Hamilton setting the pace although Button complained on the pit-to-car radio that his final run had been hindered by Kathikeyan, saying: "The HRT almost stopped in the yellow flag zone."

It was a positive start for Force India at the race they regard as their spiritual home grand prix with Adrian Sutil eighth and Paul di Resta 11th.Michael Schumacher is the most famous F1 driver in India and the seven-time world champion pleased the scattered crowd by setting the fifth fastest time for Mercedes ahead of team-mate Nico Rosberg.